Every person has the right to be represented by an attorney or other representative while pursuing a claim or other rights under titles II, XVI, and XVIII of the Social Security Act. This site contains information and links to assist both claimants and their representatives through the benefit and appeals processes.

News Update

Beginning January 1, 2015, we will no longer include a “Fee Detail Summary” with the 1099-MISC form we will issue for the calendar year 2014. In the past, we have provided these detailed summary sheets as a courtesy to all representatives with fee payments of $600 or more in each calendar year. In view of increasing costs and diminishing resources, the agency will discontinue this service.

Direct Payment to Eligible Non-Attorney Representatives (EDPNAs) – The next EDPNA examination will be held on Wednesday May 6, 2015 in Baltimore, MD. The application period runs from February 26, 2015 through March 18, 2015. For detailed information about the examination and requirements for non-attorney representatives wishing to receive direct fee payment, please click CPS HR Consulting’s Website.

On June 25, 2014, we published final rules explaining how a claimant may object to appearing at a hearing via video teleconferencing, or to the time and place of a hearing. For more information on these changes, please click Appearing at Hearings.

Beginning March 16, 2012, representatives who request, and are eligible for, direct fee payment are required to electronically file the reconsideration or hearing appeal along with the Disability Report – Appeal on medically denied Title II and Title XVI disability or blindness claims using the Internet Disability Appeal web portal. NOTE: You cannot electronically file appeals for the following issues as they are currently exclusions to the online appeals system: disability cessations, partially favorable decisions, date of onset decisions, and non-medical appeals.

A claimant may appoint a qualified individual to represent him or her in doing business with Social Security. The appointment must be in writing and must be filed with SSA. If the claimant appoints a representative, the representative generally cannot charge or collect a fee for those services without first getting written approval from the Social Security Administration, even if the claim is denied. To get this approval, the representative must use one of Social Security's fee authorization processes.

You cannot electronically sign the application on behalf of the applicant. Only the person you are helping can electronically sign his or her Internet Social Security Benefit Application and attest to the accuracy of the information provided.

If the applicant wishes to appoint you as his or her official representative, we will need a written statement appointing you to represent him or her in dealings with Social Security. You may use a Form SSA-1696 (Appointment of Representative) for this purpose.

If you are helping someone appeal a denied disability application, depending on the reason, you may be required to file the appeal online. If the application is denied for:

Non-medical reasons, contact their local Social Security Office or call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, to request an appeal. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

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Disclaimer

The Social Security Administration (SSA) website contains links to websites not affiliated with the United States government. These may include State and Local governmental agencies, international agencies, and private entities.

SSA cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by such websites. If we provide a link to such a website, this does not constitute an endorsement by SSA or any of its employees of the information or products presented on the non-SSA website.

Also, such websites are not within our control and may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility policies. Once you visit such a website, you are subject to the policies of that site.